Page 41 of Sway's Peace
But she’d just watched Sway crush a huge male’s chest with two kicks.
“Grace?” Sway lifted her hand. Putting it over his heart. “Come with me. I don’t want to leave you behind here. You don’t have to stay with me but at least let me bring you somewhere safe.”
“I… I don’t…”
“Tanin, what are you doing at the window?”
A female voice cut through the moment. Grace turned. Her eyes went wide as her brain stuttered to a complete halt.
It was the first time she’d seen another human in years.
The woman who came to stand beside Tanin was really pretty, with auburn hair, bright blue eyes, and a dash of freckles across her nose. She was wearing a cute, red nightgown, running a hand through her hair like she’d just finished washing and drying it.
She paused as well, blinking at Grace in stunned disbelief before a wide smile crossed her face.
“What the-?! No way! You’re a human!”
“So are you,” Grace breathed, amazed. “You’re… Are you with them?”
“Oh, yeah!” She embraced Tanin’s arm, beaming brightly. “My name is Garnet. Tanin is my mate. You must be the one Sway was telling us about! Sway, you dog! She’s cute! Wait,” her face went suspicious. “Why are you all at our window? And who is that guy?”
“New client,” Tanin said simply. “And Sway is avoiding leaving a comm trail.”
Garnet’s brows popped up. “What didSwaydo to need avoid leaving a comm trail?”
“I am ashamed to admit it,” Sway said, inclining his head to her. “But I was forced to act.”
“He kicked a guy’s chest in,” Loyalty said.
Grace winced, but Garnet snickered.
“Rock on,” she said.
“Seriously?” Grace gave her an incredulous look before turning her gaze onto Sway. “Aren’t you supposed to be a pacifist?”
“I am a pacifist,” he frowned.
“One that kicks people’s chests in,” Loyalty laughed.
Sway made a face. “I didn’t kill him though.”
Grace just stared, stunned. She wasn’t sure she could follow that logic. Garnet was smiling, like this was normal. Like she found it as amusing as Loyalty who was still laughing. Had she lost her mind since stepping into Covor’s office?
“Regardless,” Sway said, getting back to their conversation. “Now, these two need some help. If Grace will accept it from me, I mean.”
He looked at her again, decentering her thoughts as she focused once more on his shiny, all black eyes.
They were the exact same eyes, physically, that had been so empty and lifeless before. How was it that they were so bright and lively now?
Who was the real Sway? A violent pacifist? A cold blooded friend?
He had a human on his crew. No wonder he knew human non-verbal cues. Grace might be lost and confused, but if there was already another human that trusted these guys…
“Think of it as an adventure,” Sway said, whispering softly. “You’ve always wanted to go on one, didn’t you?”
“I was thinking like a camping trip around well mapped hiking trails or touring a town just outside of a tourist destination,” shewhispered back. “Like, maybe starting my adventures smaller. More manageable. And, you know,planned.”
He chuckled, warm affection crossing his face. Which she appreciated. She thought he’d mock her for not actually being as adventurous as she claimed to want to be. But adventures could still be safe. And none of this was safe!
